Janet Klein

Janet Klein is Professor of History at University of Akron, specializing in Middle Eastern history with focus on Ottoman Kurdistan, state-society relations, and nationalism. As Isaac Swift Distinguished Professor of Jewish Studies and director of Middle Eastern Studies and World Civilizations programs, she examines identity formation, gender dynamics, and militia-state relationships in late Ottoman contexts.

She holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University. Klein's research analyzes Kurdish militias in Ottoman tribal zones, exploring how state sponsorship of paramilitary groups influences ethnic relations and political violence. Her work provides historical context for contemporary militia dynamics globally.

Research concentrates on: Ottoman-Kurdish relations, tribal militia systems, nationalism theory, gender in state building, and comparative militia studies. Publications include the monograph 'The Margins of Empire' examining Hamidiye cavalry forces, with ongoing research on state-sponsored militia systems' enduring political impacts.

Awards include Fulbright-Hays and University research grants, plus the College's Early Career Research Award. Klein directs Akron's Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies and World Civilizations program while editing Oxford Handbooks on Theodor Adorno and Frankfurt School critical theory.